“I’ve been out walking
I don’t do too much talking these days
These days”

— Nico, These Days (Chelsea Girl, 1967)

“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”

― HH XIVth Dalai Lama

As much as this blog is supposed to be about anything, it is a journal about my illness and Zen practice.  I am not sure I have entirely been focusing on that thus far so am going to try to keep more on track from this point onwards.  So, today, I intend to set out what a day in the life of a chronically ill Buddhist looks like, or at least one that looks a bit like me. 

Some of you know me fairly well.  Others not so much.  So, some of this information may come as a surprise or not at all. 

My illness is one involving limited amounts of energy and very limited muscle stamina, especially in my legs.  I sleep and rest a lot.  I am pretty much confined to one room and rarely leave my flat/apartment due to limited mobility.  I am fortunate in having a bedroom door that leads to the outside world, and a rural location replete with trees, birds and squirrels.

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